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(No Model.)

.311. W. VAN ANTWERP. VEHICLE SPRING PLATFORM.

No. 364,150. j Patented May 31, 1887.

' wibnwoeo I gwuahtoz' attouhu s' UNITED STATES HARMON W. VAN ANTWERP,OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO I PATENT OFFICE.

, SAMUEL G. BURLEIGH, OF SAME PLACE.

VEHICLE-SPRING PLATFORM.

QPECIPICATI'ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,150, dated May 31,1887.

Application filed October 25, 1886. Serial No. 2|7,1TB. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARMON W. VAN ANT- WERP, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in thecounty of Kent andState of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Equalizer.for Springs, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore springs have been so constructed that all the weight placedabove falls upon them directly, thereby either overloading the springsor else having too light weight to secure easy riding. I overcome thisobjection by the use of one spring so secured to equalizing-rods andadjustablecross-bars that no more pressurethan the natural capacity ofthe spring is intended to bear to ride easily comes upon it, whetherthere be much or little weight carried. To illustrate: If the capacity,by direct pressure, to secure the desired softness and flexibility ofthe spring for riding were one hundred pounds, by the ready adjustmentof my device five hundred pounds can be carried, and yet but one hundredpounds direct pressure will fall upon the spring. I attain these objectsby the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an elevated plan view of the device, showing the under side;and'Fig. 2 is a sectional end view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both views.

Bolster B, rear axle, O, and side bars, D D, constitute the body orframe-work of a vehicle to which my device may be attached, and in thiscase I prefer to secure the device to the frame by means of four clips,0 c, as shown in the drawings.

A leaf-spring, E, of any desired stiffness is secured at its concavesurface to an anchorbar, F, by clips 7c is, which bar is secured to thebottom of platform A and holds the spring firmly in position. The clipsk k are adjustable, so that they may be drawn apart or brought together,thereby stiffening or soften i'ng the spring at pleasure. I

The equalizing-rods a a a a, secured to the frame, in this instance, aspreviously stated, are secured, respectively, to each end of a spring,E, at the center of the rods by means of a stirrup contrivance, it,forming the links,

and a connectingpin, it, that passes through the end of the spring,which is turned back upon itself and forms a grip, j, on the pin h.These equalizing-rods a a a a pass through the ends of adjustablecross-bars b b, which slide back and forth on these rods to equalize thepressure upon the spring. The entire weight above comes upon cross-barsb b, which are provided with yokes or clevises d d, having right andleft threaded holes, through which the ends of rod G, being respectivelyright and left threaded, pass, and which rod G is secured to platform Aby journal-boxings at each end Z Z. The object of this rod (or othersuitable means for accomplishing the same purpose) is that when it isturned round by means of a wrench, m, it forces the adjustable rods 1)I) back and forth, forcing them together or apart at the same time onthe equalizingrods. connecting-rods b b as they are brought near to oraway from the center to or from the spring E, the pressure is eitherbrought more heavily upon the springer, removed from it and thrown uponthe axle and bolster, thus regulating the direct pressure uponthe-spring and securing the easy riding, whether the vehicle be heavilyor lightly laden.

I secure the weight upon the connectingbars b b by a shoe or slide, 6 6,through holes in which. the bars pass. Upon these shoes or slides e ethe platform'A is secured in a slot or way, f f, made by guides g 9, sobeveled at the under side to correspond to the shape of the shoe, andforming a dovetail slot in whichtheshoe slides along against the sill ofplatform A when the connecting-bars b I) are moved upon theequalizing-rods.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to Sinceall the weight comesupon these.

